One piece stamped clutch hub

Abstract

A one-piece flanged clutch hub produced from flat sheet stock for utilization in a vibration damper type of driven member of a friction clutch assembly. The flanged hub is provided with a plurality of small projections formed from the flange portion on each side thereof close to the barrel of the hub to pilot other elements of the clutch assembly.

I claim: 
     
       1. A one-piece stamped hub element for a clutch plate assembly having coil springs mounted between such element and its driven plate assembly, comprising a hub barrel and an integral spring-abutting flange, said barrel extending entirely from one side of the flange, said flange having spring windows receiving said coil springs, and piloting means on said flange for rotatably guiding elements of the clutch plate assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses arranged in a circular path about the barrel axis and extending from at least one side of the flange closely adjacent to said barrel. 
     
     
       2. A one-piece stamped hub element as set forth in claim 1, in which said bosses are extruded from the flange during a stamping operation to form the hub element and project from the opposite surfaces of the flange. 
     
     
       3. A one-piece stamped hub element as set forth in claim 2, in which alternate bosses project from the opposite surfaces of said flange. 
     
     
       4. A one-piece stamped hub element as set forth in claim 1, in which the spring windows open into the periphery of the flange and are generally equally circumferentially spaced, and a plurality of recesses opening into the flange periphery between said windows to receive motion limiting means in the driven plate assembly. 
     
     
       5. A one-piece stamped hub element as set forth in claim 1, in which said spring windows are substantially equally circumferentially spaced and located inwardly of the flange periphery, and a plurality of recesses in the flange periphery generally equally circumferentially spaced thereon and adapted to receive motion limiting means of the drive plate assembly. 
     
     
       6. A clutch plate assembly including a one-piece stamped hub element, a spring retainer plate and a driven plate carrying friction surfaces adjacent the periphery thereof, the hub element having a central barrel and an integral radial flange located between said plates, spring washers and/or spacers positioned between said flange and each plate, each plate having a central opening therein, coil springs mounted between said hub element and said plates, and piloting means on said hub element to position said spring washers, spacers and/or plates in concentricity with said hub element comprising a plurality of bosses circumferentially spaced and arranged in a circular path about the barrel axis and projecting from each side of said flange adjacent said barrel. 
     
     
       7. A clutch plate assembly as set forth in claim 6, in which said bosses rotatably guide the spring retainer plate and driven plate relative to said hub element. 
     
     
       8. A clutch plate assembly as set forth in claim 6, in which said bosses are extruded in said flange during a stamping operation to form the hub element. 
     
     
       9. A clutch plate assembly as set forth in claim 6, including aligned spring pockets in said plates and flange to receive said coil springs. 
     
     
       10. A clutch plate assembly as set forth in claim 9, including a plurality of stop pins securing said plates together, said flange having peripheral recesses receiving said stop pins therein to limit relative motion between said hub element and said plates.